Hebweb news 2007: Colden Valley campaign

COLDEN VALLEY "ECO HOMES"
- Plans thrown out

Update: Thursday, 7 June 2007

The plans to develop the Colden countryside have been thrown out by Calderdale Council. Paul Dally, Chair of the Protect the Colden Valley Campaign has told the Hebden Bridge Web:

"We are delighted that the Planning Committee has rejected this proposal, vindicating what residents, visitors and members of the Protect the Colden Valley Campaign have been saying from the start.

"The support we have had has been overwhelming and heartwarming, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped in the campaign, written letters of objection to the Council, signed petitions and given their spare time to galvanise opposition to the proposed development.

"I have read the objection letters received by the Council. They are eloquent testimony that many, many people feel a passionate sense of attachment to this unique and beautiful upland landscape.

"Although we have won this battle, we are very aware that there may be appeals or further applications from this developer in the future. We are, if anything, even more determined now than we were at the beginning to act on behalf of our community and ensure that this beautiful landscape is preserved for future generations to enjoy."

COLDEN VALLEY "ECO HOMES"

Update: Friday, 1 June 2007

Call to action.....

The application to build 30 ‘eco’ holiday homes, reception building, shop, café/takeaway and parking for 42 vehicles will be heard by the Planning Committee on Tuesday 5th June at 6.00pm, Halifax Town Hall, Crossley Street, Halifax HX1 1UJ.

We are asking as many people as possible to come and show their support to our objections to this application. It is important that we make a show of strength at this meeting, to support the 572 letters of objection that Calderdale received – thank you to everyone who sent in their letters.

There will be car-share and lifts available to the Town Hall, please meet at the New Delight Car Park at 5.00pm.
Alternatively if you do require picking up – contact: Lisa Blezard 842022 or leave your name and number at May's Farm Shop and we will contact you.

Update: Tuesday, 15 May 2007

NUMBER OF OBJECTORS TO COLDEN
ECO HOMES BREAKS RECORD

The Planning Office has received in excess of 572 personal objections, believed to be a record number to any individual planning application in the past 10 years! These are in addition to the petition which raised over 600 signatures opposing the proposed development to build 30 earth covered 'eco' holiday homes, a cafe, shop, administrative centre and car parking facilities for 43 cars on a greenfield site in the beautiful Colden Valley.

The campaign to protect the Colden Valley continues with it's campaign to stop developer’s plans :

Paul Dally chair of the committee has told the Hebden Bridge Web:

“People from the communities of Colden, Heptonstall, Blackshawhead and Hebden Bridge together with visitors to the area are determined to oppose any application to develop this greenfield site and the number of objections written by individuals only serves to confirm this”

The planning committee will be meeting on Tuesday 5th June 07, to decide the outcome of the application and as many people opposing the application as possible intend be in attendance; any other members of the public who wish to show their opposition by being at the meeting are welcome to attend.

Tuesday, 20 March 2007

Campaign to Protect the Colden Valley

EXTENSIVE SUPPORT FOR CAMPAIGNERS
AS OBJECTION DEADLINE NEARS

The campaign to protect the Colden Valley reached its climax this week as the action group put the finishing touches to its detailed objection letter, and did a final count of signatures on their petition – which now boasts well over 700 signatures.

Many people have also responded to the group’s calls to send in individual objection letters to Calderdale Council. The deadline for these is Friday 23 March.

A spokesman for the Protect the Colden Valley Campaign said:

"We’re all delighted by the support we have received for our campaign. Many people have responded to out pleas to send in their objections to the council. If you haven’t already done so, I urge you to do so now as time is running out. We have also gathered a further hundred signatories to an objection letter we made available in Hebden over the last two weekends.

“Mr Plantagenet has stated that there is ‘no chance’ of getting 700 signatories to our petition. We’ve now had chance to count the addresses, and the results speak for themselves.

“There are 300 signatories living in the parishes of Blackshawhead and Heptonstall - the two parishes directly affected by the proposed development. There are a further 300 signatories from Hebden Bridge. The remaining 100 are visitors to the area - many of whom walk, cycle or ride their horses in the area.

“The opposition to this ridiculous scheme is mounting by the day. These results clearly show that there is widespread opposition to this proposal from all sections of the community.

“If the application is granted, it will not only desecrate a beautiful rural are, it will also set a dangerous precedent for other greenfield sites in the area. For both these reasons, the application must not be allowed to succeed."

CONTROVERSIAL COLDEN VALLEY
PLANNING APPLICATION IS LODGED

Tuesday, 6 March 2007

Thanks to the Protect The Colden Valley Campaign for the following

CLOCK STARTS TICKING

The campaign to protect the Colden Valley is swinging into action following the publication of a developer’s plans to build 30 earth covered ‘eco’ holiday homes, a café, a shop, an administrative centre and car park facilities for 43 cars on a greenfield site in the beautiful Colden Valley.

A community meeting will take place at Colden School on Tuesday 13 March at 8pm. Anyone who is interested in opposing this application is urged to attend.

The scheme was greeted with horror in the local community and beyond when the proposals were first unveiled last year. Residents quickly formed an action group to fight the proposal. A petition has been circulated and has gathered six hundred signatures - not only from local residents but also visitors and holiday-makers.

Paul Dally, Chair of the Protect the Colden Valley Campaign said:

“After months of waiting the clock has started ticking very loudly and now is the time for urgent action. Once constructed the damage to the landscape will be irreversible.

“We have only until 23 March to object to the planning application. Every objection is crucial – I can’t emphasise this too strongly.

“We will shortly be circulating some guidance points to help people to frame their own objections. Individual objections carry far more weight than a standard letter. Local residents and visitors to the area are our best resource in our campaign to ensure this development is defeated. Please also make sure to attend the meeting at Colden School on 13 March at 8pm.

“We are determined to fight the proposal and make sure it never comes to fruition in any form.”

Objection letters can be sent to the Calderdale Council Planning Services, 2nd Floor, Northgate House, Halifax HX1 1UN. Or you can respond by email through the planning department’s page on the Calderdale Council website. (See Hebweb Planning Watch for links)